About Me

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Pool and Patio Area

In the past I shown you a few pictures of the pool and patio area of our home. I have also shown you some of the interior pictures of what the house looked like when we bought it.

However, I have never shown you pictures of what the outside of the house looked like when we bought it. I thought I would share those with you today.

Remember, the pictures that I am going to show you are pictures of pictures so the quality is not that great.

This is the back yard and what was left of the screen enclosure the first time we looked at the house.

This picture was taken inside the pool enclosure, or I should say, what was left of the pool enclosure. Most of the screening was gone and the "landscaping" was grown into what was left of the screening.(and, yes, that is the landscaping that you see on the back side of the pool!)

This was what the side of the house looked like. I have not included pictures of the front of the house - I'll save those for another post.This picture was actually taken my the neighbor the winter BEFORE we bought the house. We bought the house eight months later - so all of this had grown even more!

Another shot of the side yard - taken from the street.

I'll save pictures of the front of the house for another post, but I think you get the general idea. The place was a disaster.

Some people might even wonder WHY we even bought this house. The only thing I can say is we thought it had "good bones".

Before we closed on the house the bank came in and had all the shrubbery cut back. The company that came in just cut everything to a waist high height and called it a day.

The only thing I can say about this stage was - at least we could see out.

After we moved in we had all the shrubbery taken out - and I do mean everything!

Then we had the pool cage re-screened, and the pool deck painted.

The next step was to buy some furniture for the patio.

The first stage of decorating was pretty minimal, but it was a beginning. Also, it was so much better than what we had started with.

Then we moved to stage two.

We added a couple of things and moved a few things around.

Much better.

But it still needed some help.

Today we changed things up again.

It was time to do a little summer decorating since the temperature here has been in the high 80's and low 90's. So, while the calendar says it is still spring the weather is saying that summer has arrived!

So, take a look of the patio now.

Don't you love my doxie? It has traveled all over the U.S. with us.

Mountain Man gave me "Mac" for my birthday about five years ago and I took her with us when we were traveling full-time.

Now that I have overloaded you with pictures AGAIN I'll close this post.

Thanks so much Sue for the sweet comment! I wish I could send some of this heat up to you - I'm afraid we are in for a very hot summer! (BTW, two years ago this week Mountain Man and I were in Canada - on the Alaskan Highway - heading to our summer job in Juneau Alaska. We absolutely LOVED the weather and we had tulips in Juneau in July!)hugs -Carol

Hi Toni - I will admit that there were times that I didn't think this place would ever get "in shape" and there is still so much more we need to do, but it has come a long way from where it was. Sometimes you just have to look at the old pictures to be reminded how far you have come. So happy that you have decided to follow - I hope I won't disappoint!Hugs -Carol

Wow! And boy do I mean "WOW". I am so jealous. You guys did an outstanding job. That pool area is just gorgeous. Just dropping by to let you know I just started a blog hop and would love for you to link up this post.

Wow, the before pictures look like it was something out of a jungle! I can't believe how overgrown everything was. You were smart to buy the house, it looks gorgeous now, and I bet your neighbors are thrilled too.

I have to say, I have never seen a pool screen before! Is it like a screen, like patio screen door material? I imagine you have it living in the south because of bugs? What a neat idea! Thanks for sharing. -K

Actually the local property appraiser called our house the "Jungle House". When he came out to do an inspection after all the outside work was done (the new screening and the side patio) he was astounded at the difference!

Really? You have never seen a pool screen before? WOW! I guess being born and raised in Florida I am so used to them I don't even think about it - yes, they are to keep the bugs out and dirt (things like leaves and grass). So, where do you live?Hugs-Carol

You are so brave to have taken this on but the results are astounding! What a beautiful setting on the canal and every update just has your lanai looking better and better. The red touches just make the place look like a magazine. Thanks so much for sharing. I have a pool and cage too so I love to see how other people decorate theirs.

Thanks so much Robin - we are enjoying the area (and have already made some other updates - more plants and lanterns with candles. I'll have to post some updated pictures (just what we have done this week)! I just can't leave well enough alone! Ha!Ha!Hugs -Carol

Well, not exactly paradise when the temperatures are 98 and the humidity level is at 90% - then it so uncomfortable the pool doesn't even feel good - all you can do is stay inside with the A/C running! However, we are enjoying the "new" area - thanks for the sweet comment!Hugs -Carol

You've done a great job on the makeover Carol. The before would have totally overwhelmed me, so you were quite brave to take this house on. Everything you've done to it has only made it look better. It looks great with all the color and I bet this is a wonderful place to entertain. As someone who has 2 doxies (and a chihuahua and a poodle) I really like your little statue too. How cute! Thanks for joining us at Your Cozy Home Party!

Hi Shannon - To be honest, there were times that I thought we had bitten on more than we could chew on this house - but I think we are starting to see that the end is in sight. We also have two doxies that I don't know how we lived without - they are our four legged babies - just had to have to statue too!Hugs -Carol

Hello - WOW Stockholm! Such a honor to have you visit my little corner of the blogosphere (is that a word?)! Thank you for your sweet comments - they are much appreciated - wait till you see the front of the house - the back was nothing!Hugs -Carol

Thanks so much Bonnie and Trish - We did work hard and it will be used a lot this summer - but with the new baby coming it might not be used that much this summer - we will have to wait and see!Hugs -Carol